Decision makers

Stop Cuts to Programs that Save Children’s Lives

On December 31, Congress is set to drive over a “fiscal cliff” that will severely cut programs that save children’s lives. These programs prevent millions of child deaths, provide training and support for frontline health workers, open doors for millions to get an education and help provide recovery from natural disasters and conflicts.

These types of programs make up less than 1% of the Federal Budget. Cutting them won't impact the deficit, but it will cost lives. It means one million kids won’t get life saving vaccines and 124,000 children will be orphaned because their parents won’t get the HIV/AIDS treatment they desperately need.

The stakes are too high to risk children being forced over the fiscal cliff on December 31. Tell Congress to protect those programs that affect children’s potential for a happy and healthy future.

Protect U.S. investments in essential child focused programs, such as those that save children's lives, support programs that provide training and support for frontline health workers, open doors for millions of children to get an education, and help provide recovery from natural disasters and conflicts, by preserving the International Affairs account.

Additionally, as you consider the FY13 appropriations bills, I to strongly urge you to support the Senate's fiscal year 2013 overall funding level for the International Affairs Budget in order to protect its child-focused accounts. The Senate's funding levels for the International Affairs Budget, forged under the bipartisan leadership of Senators Patrick Leahy and Lindsey Graham, recognizes current fiscal limitations by making smart investments in effective programs that work to save lives of children and families, increase our national security, and spur economic development both at home and around the world.